Rim-winding clock.



W. E. PORTER.

RIM WINDING CLOCK.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 5. 1914.

1,156,553. Patented 001. 12, 1915.

COLUMBIA PLANDGRAPH cu" WASHINGTON. n. c.

UNITED STATES PATENT orrron.

WILSON E. PORTER, OF NEW HAVEN, CONNECTICUT, ASSIGNOR TO NEW HAVEN CLOCK (10., OF NEW HAVEN, CONNECTICUT, A CORPORATION.

RIM-WINDING CLOCK.

Application filed September 5, 1914.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, \VILSON E. PORTER, a citizen of the United States, residing at New Haven, in the county of New Haven and State of Connecticut, have invented a new and useful Improvement in BimWVinding Clocks; and I do hereby declare the following, when taken in connection With the accompanying drawings and the characters of reference marked thereon, to be a full, clear, and exact description of the same, and which said drawings constitute part of this application, and represent, in-

Figure 1 a view in front elevation of a rim-winding clock constructed in accordance with my invention, with the combined winding rim and bezel, dial and dial-back removed. Fig. 2 a View of the clock in rear elevation with the rear ends of its inner and outer shells in transverse section. Fig. 3 a view of the clock, showing the movement in plan and the winding-rim and shells in transverse section, the parts being in their normal or winding positions. Fig. I} a corresponding view with the parts in their setting positions. Fig. 5 a view of the clock partly in transverse section and partly in inside rear elevation on the line a.b of Fig. 3 looking rearward, showing the spring and flangefor holding the inner shell in its retracted position and hence the internal gear in engagement with the Winding train. Fig. 6 an enlarged detail sectional view of the longitudinally movable transmission-shaft employed for connecting the internal winding gear with the dial-work.

My invention relates to an improvement in keyless clocks of that class which employs a winding-rim concentric with the clock case and located at the forward end thereof, the object being to produce a simple and reliable. clock of the character described, constructed with particular reference to avoid fouling in shifting the mechanism from its adjustment for winding to its adjustment for setting.

With these ends in view my invention consists in a clockhaving certain details of construction as will be hereinafter described and pointed out in the'claims.

V In carrying out my invention as herein shown, I employ a winding-and-setting rim 2' formed with a knurled rib or band 3, provided at its forward edge with, a bezelflangea for the reception of a crystal 5 and Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Oct. 12, 1915.

Serial No. 860,472.

at its rear edge with a dust-flange 6 overlapping the forward edge of the cylindrical out-er shell 7 of the clock-case. The said rim 2 is provided with internal threads 8 by means of which it is screwed upon the externally threaded projecting forward end of the rotary inner shell 9 which has a bearing fit within the outer shell 7 aforesaid. At its rear end the inner shell 9 is formed with an inwardly turned annular flange 12 the forward face of which is engaged by the respective ends of a retracting-spring 13 attached to the reinforced or heavy back 1-1 of the outer shell 7, the forward face of the back 14: being formed with an annular groove 15 at its edge for the normal reception of the annular flange 12 as clearly shown in Fig. 3. Under'tliis construction, the spring 13 exerts a constant efiort to maintain the shell 9 in its retracted position from which it can be displaced only by pulling directly forward on the winding and setting rim 2 with sufficient force to overcome the tension of the'spring 13 as shown in Fig. at.

At a point near its rear end, the rotary inner shell 9 is furnished with an internal gear 16 separated from the flange 12 aforesaid by a shallow space 17 in which the ends of the spring 13 play. The internal gear 16 normally meshes into a large windingwheel 18 mounted upon the winding-arbor 19 and secured thereto and held thereupon by a washer 20 and screw 21 as shown in Fig. 2. The said winding-wheel 18 is located to the rear of the rear movementplate 22 and is connected in the usual manner with the main-spring (not shown) which is located within a spring-barrel 23 the forward edge of which carries the mainwheel 2% of the time-train which may be of any approved construction and is not illustrated. The clock movement, as shown, also comprises a front movement-plate 25 and an intermediate movement-plate 25, the

three plates being connected together by pillars passing through spacing-sleeves 27 and 28. The movement is secured to the back 14 of the outer shell 7 by means of short pillars or studs 29 as shown in Fig. 3. Then the parts are in their'normal or winding posit-ions, any forward rotation of the rim 2 will effect the winding of the mainspring of the clock.

For utilizing the rim 2 for setting the clock, I provide a setting-wheel 30 normally meshed into the internal gear 16 and mounted upon the projecting rear end of a longitudinally movable transmission-shaft 31 which has rotary bearing and longitudinal movement in the rear movement-plate 22 and the intermediate movement-plate 26. An operating-disk 32 consisting of a thin plate of larger diameter than the settingwheel 30, is mounted upon the shaft 31 so as to bear against the forward face of the wheel 30. The rear face of the edge of this disk 32 is engaged by the forward faces of the teeth of the internal gear 16, and so maintained by the constant rearward pressure of a helical spring 33 encircling the transmission-shaft 31 and interposed between the intermediate movelnent-plate 26 and a washer 34 loosely mounted upon the shaft 31 and bearing against a pin 35 passing through the same at a point just in front of the rear movement-plate 22. The said spring 33 therefore maintains the transmission-shaft 31 in a normally retracted and idle position with the edge of the coupling-disk 32 in engagement with the forward faces of the teeth of the internal gear 16, which is in constant mesh with the wheel 30.

For the purpose of connecting the transmission-shaft 31 with the dial-wheel 36 of the dial work, I mount a yielding intermediate setting-wheel 37 upon its projecting forward end, the said wheel 37 being located in the space between the front movement-plate 25 and the dial-back 31 carrying the dial 32. The dial-wheel 36 is driven by the cannon pinion 38 on the center shaft 39, while a pinion 40 carried by the dialwheel 36 meshes into and drives the hourwheel 41 which is furnished with a sleeve 42 carrying the hour-hand, not shown.

The yielding setting-wheel 37 is provided with a hub 43 having sliding bearing upon the staff 31 the forward end of which is reduced in diameter as at 44 for the application to it of a washer 45 which retains the wheel 37 upon the staff 31. For coupling the wheel 37 for rotation with the stail 31, I employ a coupling-pin 46 passing through a slot 47 in the hub 43, whereby the said wheel is caused to rotate with the said staff but left free to slide thereupon. A spring 48 interposed between the intermediate movement-plate 26 and a washer 49 bearing upon the rear end of the hub 43', exerts a constant effort to maintain the wheel 37 at the limit of its forward movement upon the shaft 31, or in other words, bearing against the retaining washer 45 of the shaft. The said spring 48, however, is normally overcome and compressed by the spring 33 which exerts a constant effort to retract the staff 31 so as to clear the wheel 37 from the dial-wheel 36. Normally, therefore, the wheel 37 is located behind the front movement-plate 25 which is formed with a large clearance-cut 50 through which the wheel 37 moves forward for engagement with the dial-wheel 36. In case the teeth of the wheel 37 do not register with the teeth of the wheel 36 when the former is moved forward to go into mesh with the latter, the spring 48 yields and permits the shaft 36 to move forward throu h the hub 43, leaving the forward face 0 the teeth of the wheel 37 bearing upon the rear face of the teeth of the wheel 36. Now the instant the shaft 35 is turned by the turnin of the winding-and-setting rim 2, the teeth of the two wheels will go into registration and the wheel 37 will be pushed forward into mesh with the wheel 36 by the spring 48.

It will be understood from the fore oing that normally the clock will be in rea iness for winding by turning the rim 2 forward. ll' henever the clock is wound the transmission-shaft 31 with the wheels 30 and 37 at its opposite ends will be rotated without effect, however, since normally the wheel 37 will be held out of range with the dial-wheel 36. To convert the clock for setting, the rim 2 is drawn directly forward against the tension of the spring 13, whereby the internal gear 16 co-acting with the disk 32, will draw the transmission shaft 31 forward. As the rim 2 is drawn forward as described, the gear 16 is demeshed from the windin wheel 18 and the gear 37 intermeshed wit the dial-wheel 36 after which the clock may be set by turning the rim 2 in either direction. As soon as the clock has been set, the spring 13 reasserts itself to retract the inner shell 9 and so re-mesh the gear 16 with the winding-wheel 18. At the same time the spring 33 asserts itself to retract the transmission-shaft 31 and so draw the wheel 37 away from the wheel 36 and through the clearance-cut 50 in the forward movementplate 35.

I claim 1. In a rimless clock, the combination with the winding-and-setting trains thereof, of a rotary and laterally movable winding-andsetting rim, an internal gear rotated by the said rim and normally in mesh with the winding train, a longitudinally movable and rotary transmission-shaft movable into its setting position by the lateral movement of the said rim and provided at one end with a wheel meshing into the said internal gear and at its opposite end with a wheel for coaction with the setting train.

2. In a rimless clock, the combination with the winding-and-setting trains thereof, of a rotary and laterally movable winding-andsetting rim, an internal gear connected with the said rim and rotated thereby, alongitudinally movable and rotary transmissionshaft movable into its setting position by 130 the lateral movement of the said rim and provided at one end with a wheel constantly I meshed into the said internal gear, and at its opposite end with an intermediate setting-Wheel having yielding connection with it and co-acting With the setting train when the shaft i moved into its setting position.

3. In a rimless clock, the combination with the winding-and-setting trains thereof, of a rotary and laterally movable winding-andsetting rim, an internal gear rotated by the said rim and normally in mesh with the winding-train, a longitudinally movable and rotary transmission-shaft provided at one end with an operating disk engaged by the teeth of the internal gear, whereby the shaft is moved into its setting position upon the lateral movement of the said rim, and the said shaft being provided at one end With a wheel constantly meshing into the said gear, andat its opposite end with a wheel for co-action with a setting-train but normally cleared therefrom.

4. In a rimle-ss clock, the combination with the winding-and-setting trains thereof, of a rotatable and laterally movable Windingand-setting rim, an internal gear connected with the rim and rotated thereby, a spring for maintaining the internal gear normally in mesh with the winding-train, a longitudinally movable and rotary transmissionshaft provided at one end with a wheel meshing into the said internal gear, and at its opposite end with an intermediate setting-wheel movable into and out of mesh with a member of the setting-train, means whereby the rim when moved laterally, moves the said shaft longitudinally from its winding to its setting position, a spring for holding the said shaft in its normal retired position, and a spring for holding the said wheel in its normal position upon the said shaft.

5. In a rimless clock, the combination with an outer and inner shell, of a rotary and laterally movable winding-and-setting rim mounted upon the forward end of the said inner shell, an internal gear located within the rear end of the said inner shell, a spring connected with the back of the outer shell and engaged with the rear end of the inner shell for holding the latter in its retracted position within the former, winding-and-setting trains, the former being normally in mesh with the said gear, and a transmission-shaft normally in mesh with the said gear and longitudinally moved thereby to connect the shaft with the setting-train at which time the said gear is demeshed from the winding-train.

6. In a rimless clock, the combination with an outer and an inner shell, of Winding-andsetting trains, a rotatable and laterally movable winding-and-setting rim attached to the forward end of the said inner shell, winding-and-setting trains, an internal gear located at the rear of the said inner shell and normally in mesh with a member of the winding train, a longitudinally movable transmission-shaft connected at its rear end with the gear for being rotated and longitudinally moved thereby, an intermediate setting-wheel mounted upon the forward end of the said shaft for rotation therewith and slidable thereupon, and springs for normally maintaining the internal gear in mesh with the winding mechanism and the transmission shaft in it retired position, and for yieldingly moving the intermediate setting-wheel into mesh With the settingtrain when the transmission shaft is longitudinally moved by the lateral movement of the winding-and-settinp rim.

In testimony whereof, I have signed this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

WVILSON E. PORTER. \Vitnesses:

CLARA L. WVEED, MALCOLM P. NIcHoLs.

Gopies 01 this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. G. 

